Iraq Uncategorized

ACTED builds WASH infrastructure in the newly open Al-Salamiya camp

ACTED 2018

Al-Salamiyah camp 1 was opened by ACTED and its partners on the 23 May to host conflict-affected men, women, boys and girls fleeing West Mosul. As of mid-June 2017, less than a month since the camp opening, its population reached a total of 9,284 individuals and 1,766 families.

As camp manager and main WASH partner, ACTED is committed to ensure that all individuals living in the camp have access to enough clean and safe water, in order to provide for their needs in terms of drinking, cooking and washing. For this reason, in the months preceding the opening of the camp, ACTED has started WASH infrastructure works, funded by the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) as part of a Consortium project with two Alliance2015 partners, People In Need (PIN) and Welthungerhilfe (WHH).

 

ACTED 2017

Water trucking in the camp will no longer needed as a water distribution pipeline will directly reach the camp

ACTED WASH team worked in close collaboration with the governorate and water directorate to design the water distribution line that will serve Al-Salamiyah camp 1. The 1.6 km water distribution line connects to the main pipeline, running from Salamiyah water treatment plant through Nimroud district, and providing water to Nimroud, Kheder and surrounding villages. Prior to this intervention, ACTED conducted feasibility studies to ensure the construction of this distribution line would not affect the current water supply in the villages in Nimroud district the main pipeline serves.

Thanks to the additional water distribution line installation, water trucking in the camp – which is an expensive and not sustainable emergency operation – will no longer take place, as water flowing through the water line will fill the elevate water tanks currently being constructed in the camp. A pressure reducing valve and a flanged gate valve will regulate and control the water flow and pressure from Nimrud to the tanks. Water tanks will be filled at night, when the consumption of water in the surrounding villages will be lower. Finally, the installation of a water meter will also enable to monitor water consumption in the camp.

Increasing the water storage capacity of the camp through the building of elevated water tanks

The second focus of intervention of ACTED WASH team has been the construction of elevated water tanks, to respond to the need for an increased water storage capacity in the camp during the hot summer months. Currently, there are 44 communal tanks in the camp, each with a capacity of 5m3; in total, they provide 23 liter per day per person. Thanks to the construction of additional 7 elevated tanks, with a capacity of 30m3 each, the water capacity of the camp will increase to 45 liter per day per person.

ACTED 2017

Once construction works will be terminated, the elevated tanks will be connected to the water line and to the communal tanks previously installed in the camp. ACTED will then continue to monitor the quality of the installed infrastructure, supervise operations and maintain the facilities.

ACTED has been closely working with local stakeholders, including the Ninewa Water Directorate and

Ninewa governorate, with whom a Memorandum of Understanding was signed. ACTED has also ensured closed cooperation with the staff and operators in the Al Salamiyah Water Treatment Plant, sharing best practice for its functioning and maintenance.

Through this ECHO-funded intervention, the over 9,000 people living in the camp will have access to an appropriate amount of safe drinking water ensuring adequate provision of water during the hot summer months.